what would be the next option when there is already a classroom calender with due dates of exams and assignment and after reminding students about the due date still not presenting the work? any suggestions? I am open. thank you

Many of the instructors i have worked with brag about the fact that they never take any time off. Every once in a while i find i need a vacation day to refocus my energies in a more positive manner . I try to minimize the burden that i put on others but sometimes a day to yourself can be very refreshing.

When in the lab i lose alot of time due to students pulling parts without maintaining the areas cleanliness . To help cut back on the time i spent cleaning up after them i have assigned each group an area to take ownership of and maintain its condition . I find now they help control other students as well as take pride in their area.

There's always one in the class: the student who carries a chip on her (or his) shoulder from Day 1. It should be no surprise to anyone if I suggest that many of these students are simply applying a preemptive defense mechanism to disguise something less obvious like shyness or insecurity. I'd be interested in finding out what other reasons students have for packing an attitude for no apparent reason; as well as what instructors do to overcome those obstacles.

I feel that the "What's In It For Me" rationale only goes so far. My experience has been that day students are more interested in career objectives while night students are more interested in establishing an academic foothold -- which is to say, they want a degree that they think is attainable. I don't mean to generalize, but as a percentage of total population, I feel that this observation holds true, at least in the Film and Media program. More day students take notes and ask questions. More night students take naps and are anxious to leave early. Classes appear to be necessary evils to them. If they could test out, they probably would. I would be interested to hear other instructors' observations.

Could someone explain synchronous and asynchronous course formats to me?

In my opinion, we are in control of our behavior; therefore, we can choose to allow which potential stressors are going to stress us out.

I have 2 students in one of my classes and all they behave as if they haven't seen each other for years, talking on and on, while I am trying to present a lesson. I use different strategies to get these 2 to settle down without embarrassing them or calling even more attention to them. First, I get them involved in the lecture or presentation itself; this way they are actually talking on topic and, in giving their opinion, they are taking center stage. Second, when this doesn't work, I call attention to them by asking if there is anything they want to add or tell th class; while this could potentially be embarrassing, it is not for these 2 and they are always more than ready to comment on any subject. The best way to deal with "talkers" is to get them to talk on target and not just chit-chat to each other.

I have found that applying a test of reasonableness to the various situations that come up is a good way to avoid making them into stress generators!

Do you have issues with students not being willing or participate in Icebreakers at the beginning of class?

I have learned that classroom control and respect by students and by the instructor are very closely linked.

I have learned that angry students are rarely angry about school items. Usually they have displaced anger over issues in their personal lives.

A well designed and thorough syllabus also sets the stage for student homework expectations.

In the section on the "Blaming others" students, one of the strategies suggested deals with penalties for lateness. While I agree that there should be consequences for lateness, I disagree with the other suggestion of offering bonus points for turning in assignments early for students "who are in need of course points but can't seem to get things in on time." I am happy to work with a student to figure out what barriers they have to getting assignments in on time, but I don't believe that allowing them to "make up" points serves to reinforce the message that, in the business community, there aren't any "do overs".

My class policy is "no late assignments", for any reason. I find that this is more fair to everyone then trying to decide which excuse merits exceptions. My students know that they can fax, email or have another student hand in their work, but if I don't have it by the beginning of class, it won't be accepted. My grades are also weighted so that missing one assignment won't have a huge affect on the student's grade, but multiple missed assignments will.

I unfortunatly have fallen away from stress relievers because I don't have time for them, being that I have over packed my life and created a lot of stress. I remember when I exercised on a daily basis, I was much less stressed out and even ate better. I can tell that I have developed health issues due to my chroniclly high stress level. It is time for me to commit to better self care and increasing my healthy habits.

Based upon what I have learned from this module, I intend on giving stretching a try. I have never really stretched besides before and after exercise. I am hopeful this will help, as long as I don't pull something and that will really stress me out. Kind Regards, Lee

It may sound ironic, but I work around individuals that all they focus on is stress and how it is caused and how to avoid it, in all honesty, that is stressing me out. I agree stress is all around us, but the lengths some individuals will go to causes other people significant amounts of stress. If I have to listen to one more relaxation CD I think I will go crazy. Has this happened to anyone else? Kind Regards, Lee

I have taught, past tense, at universities where the student's evaluation of the instructor was a primary factor in that instructor gaining tenure and being offered a contract. I believe that student feedback is important for the instructor to grow and become a more effective and efficient instructor. However, not every student is going to agree with the outcome of a course and their grade. Hence the instructor receives a poor student evaluation and the chance exists for the lose of a faculty position. I do not believe this should be the case. What are your thoughts on this? Kind Regards, Lee

That precious resource called time never seems to be on our side. The manner in which we manage it is the key to our success or ultimate failure. However, I have found that those times that I may "deviate" from my task at hand in many instances are productive. Is staying on task important? Of course it is, but as long as we make the most of our limited resource of time, we are the better for it. Kind Regards, Lee